In April, a total solar eclipse is expected to occur, promising great scientific success thanks to new spacecraft, telescopes, and cosmic coincidences.
The upcoming eclipse will feature the Moon very close to Earth, resulting in a prolonged period of darkness, and an anticipated increase in solar activity with possible dramatic plasma bursts. Additionally, densely populated areas from Mexico to America to Canada will witness this phenomenon.
During the eclipse, citizen scientists among the tens of millions of spectators will assist NASA and other research groups in studying our planet and stars. They will capture images of the sun’s corona as the moon blocks sunlight for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds on April 8. The atmosphere will witness calm among birds and animals as darkness envelops midday. Other activities include measuring temperature drops, monitoring clouds, and using amateur radio to assess interruptions in communications.
Simultaneously, a rocket carrying scientific instruments will be launched into the ionosphere near the edge of the universe. This launch, from Wallops Island, Virginia, aims to study the electrically charged region of the atmosphere during the partial solar eclipse, obscuring 81% of the sun. NASA’s high-altitude jets will also be deployed with improved telescopes to observe the eclipse’s effects on the sun’s corona and surrounding dust.
Various scientific activities will take place along the eclipse path across different locations. More than 600 weather balloons will be launched for live-streamed atmospheric studies by university students, irrespective of cloudy skies. The eclipse will provide a rare opportunity to observe the sun’s corona, which is usually hidden by its glare, and offer valuable insights into the corona’s extreme temperatures.
The eclipse will traverse through several U.S. states, into Canada, and finally exit into the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists are looking forward to the event to gather valuable data and insights, especially with the heightened solar activity compared to the 2017 eclipse. With new spacecraft studying the sun and advanced scientific instruments in place, April’s solar eclipse promises a wealth of scientific discoveries.
This eclipse, passing through U.S. radar sites monitoring space weather, will offer a unique opportunity for scientific observation closer to home.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
